All my life, I have been fascinated with pursuing “truth” and understanding how things work behind the scenes. This curiosity naturally led me to what I now consider my calling: journalism. It was in 2002 when I stumbled upon this path. I began working full-time in radio, specifically in a station with a fully functional news department. This opportunity wasn’t just about developing my skills and diving into the intricate world of news production and reporting. I was fortunate to grow in my talent and become a lay leader in news production. Over time, I mentored reporters for a statewide radio network, a role I thoroughly enjoyed and took immense pride in. However, this journey abruptly ended in 2019 when I was unceremoniously relieved (fired) from my position. Despite the manner of my departure, those years were invaluable to my understanding of how the media industry functions or, more accurately, how it has devolved over time.
I have witnessed a dramatic unraveling of the media landscape throughout my career, especially in the five years since my departure. Once a trusted bastion of truth and nuanced storytelling, journalism has steadily transformed into a medium more concerned with entertainment and sensationalism. I never attended journalism school, but I worked diligently for years, observing the shift in focus within the industry. What once aimed to inform the public with unbiased facts has turned into a spectacle designed to attract views and attention by feeding into biases and sensational narratives.
News sources today often cater to a specific viewpoint, reinforcing the beliefs of a particular audience rather than offering diverse perspectives. This is easier and cheaper to produce and, unfortunately, incredibly profitable. It’s rare to find an outlet that truly presents the whole picture. Most aim to keep their audiences comfortable and reaffirm their pre-existing views. The rise of these “news bubbles” or “silos” is not only alarming but also highly lucrative for media companies. People are now regularly exposed only to opinions and information that they already agree with. When they do encounter opposing viewpoints, those views are often painted as coming from an enemy or someone with ill intent.
Social media has exacerbated this issue further. The infamous notion that “a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its shoes on” has never been more relevant. The spread of misinformation, alternative facts, and sensationalized content happens alarmingly, often outpacing genuine, fact-based reporting. Even traditional political reporting has been tainted. Instead of diving into the complexities of an issue, the focus has shifted to clickbait headlines and pre-arranged shouting matches that draw people in without offering any real insight.
The consequences of this shift are dire. Misinformation spreads rapidly, and it’s no longer just the so-called “low information” population falling for these traps. Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of using this confusion to their advantage. Politicians and media alike seem more interested in swaying public opinion for immediate gains rather than fostering a well-informed electorate. We’re left in a cycle where voters are confused, distracted by the latest controversy, and unable to track the actual source of problems because they’ve been misled by the current “boogeyman” of the day.
Finding a news source that provides a complete, nuanced story is becoming increasingly rare. This is why my approach has shifted. Rather than focusing on any one outlet or viewpoint, I seek out a wide range of articles from as many diverse sources as possible. By doing this, I trust that the public, particularly the “News Nerds” community, can sift through the noise and identify the stories worth engaging with and discussing in depth.
This independent internet broadcast aims to find the most ‘conversational’ news stories to expand on daily. They might be the big all-day breaking news stories that overwhelm the cable newsers all day, the quirky local story that goes viral for auspicious reasons, and some questionable blog posts with questionable journalistic values. We do not discriminate and question some of the validity ourselves even after we press post. Every 50 minutes or so, we post a headline link to our feeds on Facebook, X, and Threads so that you can tell us exactly what you deem conversational. The more you engage with a particular headline, the greater the chance of it being featured in our daily morning update, Things You Might Not Have Heard, and the weekend show, The Weekly Roundup.
This is a team effort with you and I. Ready to get to work?
The Conversation Project is a part of Payne’s larger media property, More Better Media, LLC. Payne also operates a consulting operation based on his logistics and long-term business planning history, Fast Forward Business Properties, LLC.
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